D’Angelo, a sixth-grader at Broadview Middle School, said her essay was inspired by the courage of the slain civil rights leader.

“Martin Luther King wasn’t afraid to share what he thought,” D’Angelo said in a prepared statement. “He made a difference and his speech changed laws. It showed that everyone should be respected.”

D’Angelo’s essay was among thousands submitted to Sen. Chris Murphy’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Essay Challenge, according to a release.

“I launched this year because it’s clear, perhaps now more than ever before, that our work is not yet complete,” Murphy said in a prepared statement. “I hope this challenge encouraged young people all across Connecticut to commit to making Dr. King’s dream and the dreams of their own a reality.”